Atlanta Falcons

Julio Jones and the Atlanta Falcons appear headed for a divorce. 

Undisputed's Shannon Sharpe called Jones during Monday's show and asked him if he wanted to be traded to the Dallas Cowboys or stay in Atlanta. 

"I'm out of there," Jones responded before adding that he wasn't interested in a trade to Dallas. 

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport and ESPN's Adam Schefter added more context to Jones' comments on Monday:

This is why Julio Jones told Shannon Sharpe he’s “out of there.” Because he knows he requested a trade and the team is open to considering it. But it doesn’t mean he will get traded. https://t.co/2F0aFeSr5o

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) May 24, 2021

Falcons prefer not to trade Julio Jones in the NFC, but would do so for the right price. But now, with Jones wanting out of Atlanta, they are looking for the best value in either conference. https://t.co/D59vq0x9jz

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) May 24, 2021

So Jones wants out, and the Falcons reportedly are willing to oblige that request to the right team. But he won't come cheap. 

That isn't just because the Falcons are going to try to get a first-round pick for him. As Field Yates of ESPN noted, it's also because Jones has a very lucrative salary his acquiring team would be responsible for paying:

Again, the financials involved for a Julio Jones trade. The acquiring team would owe Jones:
2021: $15.3M (guaranteed)
2022: $11.513 ($2M guaranteed now)
2023: $11.513M

3-years, $38.326M for Jones, who turned 32 in February.

— Field Yates (@FieldYates) May 24, 2021

Granted, the 32-year-old Jones hasn't shown many signs of slowing down. While a hamstring injury limited him to nine games last year, he still caught 51 passes for 771 yards and three scores. 

That broke a streak of six straight seasons with at least 1,300 receiving yards. For most teams in the NFL, the seven-time Pro Bowler and two-time first-team All-Pro selection would be a game-changer. 

This to me sorta slaps away the nonsense that maybe a 2nd round pick is too much. Please. Julio remains a player who must be game planned for.

— Mike Giardi (@MikeGiardi) May 24, 2021

So it would be logical that a number of teams would be interested in the veteran Jones. Given his age and contract—and the fact that he hasn't been dealt yet despite reportedly requesting a trade months ago—it would appear that teams aren't so interested in meeting Atlanta's asking price of a first-round pick. 

It has been an active market for trades across the National Football League in 2021. We've already seen a pair of Pro Bowl offensive linemen traded…by the same team. We've seen two quarterbacks who were once the first overall pick in the NFL draft get dealt…for one another.

And there continues to be speculation that we could see a mega-deal involving the reigning league MVP.

Now, talk has shifted to the possibility that one of the best wide receivers of his generation could be traded.

There has actually been chatter that Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones could be traded for some time. The Falcons are ostensibly engaging in at least a partial rebuild after a 4-12 2020 campaign led to a regime change. Jones is a 32-year-old wideout who carries a cap hit north of $23 million in 2021 and is coming off his second-worst season of his career in terms of yardage and receptions.

Editor's Note: Undisputed's Shannon Sharpe called Jones during Monday's show and asked him if he wanted to be traded to the Dallas Cowboys or stay in Atlanta. "I'm out of there," Jones responded before adding that he wasn't interested in a trade to Dallas. More context was added later Monday via NFL Network's Ian Rapoport and ESPN's Adam Schefter.

As ESPN's Michael Rothstein reported, given Atlanta's rather tenuous salary cap situation and the state of the franchise, new general manager Terry Fontenot admitted in April that the Falcons would at least listen to offers for their star wideout.

“The answer to that is just pointing to the cap and pointing to the fact that we’ll answer calls on any players. When teams ask about players, we have to answer those calls and we have to listen because we do have to, we knew when we stepped into this, we were going to have to make some tough decisions because it is just the reality of it. That’s where we are with the salary cap, so we have to make some difficult decisions.”

Jones may be coming off an injury-marred 2020 season, but interest in his services is guaranteed to be robust. In 10 professional seasons, he has eclipsed 1,000 receiving yards seven times and 1,500 receiving yards three times. He caught at least 100 passes in three different seasons, including a ridiculous 136/1,871/8 stat line in 2015. As recently as 2019, he caught 99 passes for 1,394 yards and six scores on the way to his seventh Pro Bowl.

So long as he's healthy, Jones is still a very dangerous wide receiver.

Of course, wanting Jones is only half the equation. The list of teams who would like to roster him is probably about 31 franchises long. There's also the matter of making a trade offer the Falcons find acceptable.

According to Bill Huber of Packers Central, one NFL executive said he'd be willing to give up a second-round pick and a fourth-round pick for Jones. He also allowed that may not be enough to get the deal done and Atlanta may well be seeking a first-rounder as the centerpiece of a trade package.

“Giving up a one is too much,” he said. “Honestly, a two is too much but it’s the price, I’m sure.”

So long as reports continue that Jones is available, so will speculation that connects him to every team from Arizona to Washington and all parts between. But there are a handful of contending teams that stand out as clubs who should get Fontenot on the horn and make like Wayne Brady.

Or Monty Hall, if you're a little older.

Baltimore Ravens

The Ravens have been linked to Jones from the moment whispers emerged that he might be available.

However, given all the work the team has already done on the receiving corps (including signing Sammy Watkins and drafting Rashod Bateman in Round 1 this year), just $9.8 million in cap space per Over the Cap and an impending extension for quarterback Lamar Jackson, the odds of Baltimore GM Eric DeCosta making a play for Jones aren’t great.

Still, there's no denying that adding Jones would take Baltimore's receiver room to a whole new level—making the Ravens an even bigger threat to the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC than they already are. Jeff Zrebiec of the Athletic admitted that a Jones trade isn't likely, but he posited that a deal including a couple of draft picks and a player like young wideout Miles Boykin can't be discounted entirely.

"It would be easy to rule them out on Jones," Zrebiec wrote. "Yet, fixing the receiver position has been an offseason obsession for DeCosta, and Jones' talent is enticing. Consider the Ravens an unlikely suitor, but don't rule them out completely."

Cleveland Browns

There may not be a more hyped team in the NFL this year than the Cleveland Browns, and unlike two years ago, this time the hype actually appears well-placed. The Browns are coming off an 11-win season and their first playoff win in over 25 years.

A trade for Julio Jones would send that hype into, well, hyperdrive.

Imagine, if you will, an offense consisting of the best offensive line in the NFL (according to Pro Football Focus), the best one-two punch in the backfield in the league (Kareem Hunt and Nick Chubb) and Jones, Odell Beckham Jr. and Jarvis Landry at wide receiver.

That thud you just heard was Baker Mayfield fainting.

Yes, the finances of bringing Jones in would be tricky, especially with extensions looming for Mayfield, Chubb and cornerback Denzel Ward. But Ward and Mayfield are under team control through 2023. The franchise tag is an option for Chubb. Beckham doesn't have a dime of guaranteed money left on his deal after this season. And the Browns are sitting on about $21 million in cap space.

There is more creative accounting than that going on in half a dozen NFL cities (looking at you, New Orleans). And there would be something oddly poetic about Jones being dealt to the team that originally had the rights to the pick used to draft him in 2011.

 

Green Bay Packers

Most of the trade talk in Titletown of late has centered on the team's (allegedly) disgruntled quarterback.

But one incredibly effective way for the team to mend fences with Aaron Rodgers would be to pair Jones with Davante Adams to give Green Bay the most formidable duo at wide receiver in all of the NFL.

"Hey Aaron! We got you a present!"

The biggest sticking point for a deal involving Jones and the Packers isn't hard to figure out. Green Bay is currently sitting on less than $3 million in cap space. That's not enough to sign James Jones, much less Julio—and James Jones hasn't played since 2015.

But as Mike Florio reported for Pro Football Talk, the Pack could free up a boatload of cap space by restructuring Adams' contract. There's also the matter of Rodgers' deal—a re-do there could both free up even more wiggle room and give Rodgers the guaranteed cabbage he seeks.

If there's a team on this list that should be willing to throw a 2022 first at Atlanta, it's the Packers. If it meant smoothing things over with their MVP quarterback and striking fear into the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, it would be worth it.

 

New England Patriots

This destination may be the most likely of the lot. According to Michael Holley of NBC Sports Boston (per colleague Darren Hartwell), Jones has expressed a desire to join Cam Newton in New England.

"You know who (Jones) really wants to play with? ... He wants to play with Cam Newton. He likes Cam," Holley said. "That's the other thing: He thinks (Falcons quarterback) Matt Ryan has lost a little zing on his deep ball."

In news that should surprise exactly zero people, the interest is mutual. The NFL Network's Mike Giardi reported (via Adam Maya) that the Pats have had "internal discussions" about making a play for Jones.

The Patriots were active in free agency in trying to bolster the wide receivers, adding Nelson Agholor and Kendrick Bourne. But Bourne and Agholor have combined for exactly seven fewer 1,000-yard seasons than Jones.

The Patriots are relatively well-positioned against the salary cap, with about $16 million in wiggle room. Jones would be the unquestioned No. 1 target in the passing game for a Patriots team trying desperately not to fall any farther behind the Miami Dolphins and Buffalo Bills in the AFC East.

The biggest sticking point may be selling Jones on a Newton-less New England. After drafting Alabama's Mac Jones 15th overall in 2021, it's just a matter of time until the youngster takes over under center.

 

Tennessee Titans

Coming off consecutive playoff appearances, the Tennessee offense has a lot going for it. Ryan Tannehill has emerged as a quality starter under center in Nashville. The Titans have the two-time defending rushing champ in Derrick Henry. The team has a budding superstar at wide receiver in A.J. Brown.

The problem is that outside of Brown, the depth chart at wide receiver dries up quickly. Free-agent acquisition Josh Reynolds is a capable veteran in the slot, but that's about it. Dez Fitzpatrick is a talented but unproven rookie.

If the Titans see themselves as a legitimate Super Bowl contender in the AFC, then improving one of the weakest position groups on the roster with the addition of Jones makes a lot of sense. He and Brown would be quite the terrible twosome on the outside, especially given the number of stacked fronts Henry sees.

Henry certainly appears to like the idea.

TITAN TF UP ⚔️ https://t.co/LOuqC2mH70

— Derrick Henry  (@KingHenry_2) May 20, 2021

Per Terry McCormick of Titans Insider, Tennessee general manager Jon Robinson declined to comment when asked about a potential trade for Jones. And with just $3.6 million in cap space, fitting Jones salary under the cap would take some doing.

But if Tennessee could figure out a way to make the numbers work, the Titans would be the no-doubt favorites in the AFC South.

Matt Ryan would prefer the Atlanta Falcons keep Julio Jones amid trade rumors for the star receiver, although the quarterback understands the business of the NFL.

Ryan discussed a potential Jones trade with Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated:

I hope he’s here. He’s been such an awesome teammate. Really, and I’ve said this before, I don’t think anybody has impacted my career as significantly as him. I’ve been very fortunate to ride along with him for 10 years. So we’ll see what happens. But I also don’t want to get involved in anybody else’s business. That’s for him to handle.

Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported prior to the NFL draft the Falcons were receiving calls about a potential trade for Jones, although a deal is unlikely to happen until June 1 because of salary-cap implications.

The Falcons would be left with $23.25 million in dead cap in 2021 if Jones were traded immediately, but the team could spread $15.5 million of that to 2022 after June 1, per Spotrac.

It means Atlanta would save $15.3 million in cap room for next year with a deal while likely returning key assets to build for the future. Breer projected the Falcons could receive a second-round pick in a trade.

Jones is also coming off a year where he missed seven games because of a hamstring injury while Calvin Ridley showed he can be a true No. 1 in his place. After adding tight end Kyle Pitts with the No. 4 pick of the draft, the Falcons still have the pieces to thrive offensively even without Jones.

Ryan would obviously love a chance to throw to Jones, Ridley and Pitts in the lineup together, but it might not be in the best interest of the team long term after a 4-12 season.

The Atlanta Falcons were reportedly seeking a first-round pick for wide receiver Julio Jones ahead of the 2021 NFL draft.

Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated reported the Falcons could not find a taker because "the climate in the NFL right now isn't conducive to getting value for an expensive 32-year-old receiver."

Jones is due $15.3 million guaranteed for the 2021 season. The Falcons have explored trading the future Hall of Famer because of cap constraints, as they currently have just $357,027 in salary-cap room and cannot sign draft picks until they free up more space.

Trading Jones after June 1 would free up $15.3 million, giving the Falcons more than enough room to sign their picks without making any other alterations to their roster or pushing more money into the future. They already restructured the contracts of quarterback Matt Ryan, linebacker Deion Jones and left tackle Jake Matthews this offseason.

The most obvious school of thought here is that the Falcons committed themselves to compete in 2021 by restructuring those deals rather than starting a full-scale rebuild. They could have added Ryan's long-term replacement in Justin Fields at No. 4 but selected tight end Kyle Pitts instead.

The logic behind trading Jones after making all of those moves—especially for anything less than a first-round pick—seems questionable. Jones was still one of the NFL's best receivers last season when healthy, registering 51 receptions for 771 yards and three touchdowns in nine games.

It's almost certain that Jones will perform at a level high enough next season that his value will be equivalent to what it is now in trade talks. If the Falcons are committed to winning in 2021, they're making themselves worse in every aspect by moving on from the best receiver in franchise history.

Doing so at a discount would raise even more eyebrows.

Despite reports the Atlanta Falcons are actively shopping Julio Jones, the team is reportedly only listening to offers rather than being the initiator.

ESPN's Jeremy Fowler said on SportsCenter on Sunday the Patriots are a team worth monitoring in discussions but that the Falcons are also open to Jones returning in 2021:

I've talked to a few teams who are at least wondering if the New England Patriots get involved here, because they've had an aggressive offseason in free agency with all of those signings they made. They have $16.2 million in cap space to take on a bloated salary like Julio's. And Jones and quarterback Cam Newton go way back from those Auburn-Alabama rivalry Iron Bowl days, and those days in the NFC South together. They're both around the same age, so at the very least, they are friendly. Now, I checked in on this. There's nothing going on right now. You know, the Patriots typically talk internally about a lot of potential options that are out there. So, I'm sure they've had a discussion; nothing moving there right now. But a source in Atlanta told me, 'Look, we are still in the listening phase right now. We are not initiating talks, and there's still a chance Jones is in a Falcons uniform next year.' But the Patriots are probably one of several teams to watch here.

The Falcons can save $15.3 million in cap space by trading Jones after June 1. The Patriots still have a major hole at the top of their wide receiver depth chart that would instantly be solved by Jones, a seven-time Pro Bowler and future Hall of Famer who just turned 32 in February.

Atlanta's decision to move on from Jones would seemingly be at odds with its decision-making all offseason. It would have been understandable if the team sought to strip the roster down to its bare parts after posting a 4-12 season and hiring a new general manager (Terry Fontenot) and head coach (Arthur Smith).

However, the Falcons essentially committed to at least one more year of attempting to compete for the AFC South by restructuring the contract of Matt Ryan and drafting tight end Kyle Pitts fourth overall. The Falcons could have selected Justin Fields at No. 4 while seeking out trades for Ryan and Jones to begin a full-scale rebuild.

Moving on from Jones now would be a crippling blow for a Falcons team that is already going to be heavily reliant on its offense to compete in 2021. Jones missed seven games because of injury last season but was still one of the most effective receivers in football when he was on the field. In fact, his 75 percent catch rate blasted his previous career high.

Calvin Ridley showed he's a more than capable WR1 in Jones' absence last season, but the Falcons would have one of the sport's most dynamic trio of pass-catchers in Ridley, Jones and Pitts next season. Testing out the waters of how things go under Smith seems like the more prudent decision, and Jones will still have significant trade value while not carrying such an exorbitant cap hit.

The New England Patriots are reportedly considering making a run at Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones on the trade market.

According to NFL Network's Mike Giardi (h/t NFL.com's Adam Maya), the Pats have had internal discussions about Jones.

Jeff Schultz of The Athletic reported Thursday that the Falcons "would like to" trade Jones, primarily because he is set to earn $15.3 million in 2021 and the Falcons have only $588,018 in cap space.

Schultz mentioned the Patriots as one of a handful of teams that could be in the market for Jones. The others were the Baltimore Ravens, San Francisco 49ers, Indianapolis Colts and Los Angeles Chargers.

DraftKings Sportsbook released odds Friday for which team Jones will play for when the 2021 season begins. While the Falcons were favored to keep him at -150, the Patriots were tied for the fourth-best odds with the Ravens at +700. The Colts and Chargers were listed at +500.

The Patriots have tried to improve their receiving corps this offseason, signing Nelson Agholor and Kendrick Bourne, though they lost Julian Edelman to retirement.

New England got very little production from that group last season, as Jakobi Meyers led the way in receptions (59) and yards (729). Only N'Keal Harry recorded as many as two receiving touchdowns.

Meyers and Harry have potential, and Agholor and Bourne should help, but the Patriots still lack a go-to guy.

While head coach Bill Belichick signed tight ends Hunter Henry and Jonnu Smith, the Patriots could still use an outside threat.

Jones would fit the bill, as the 10-year veteran has been named a Pro Bowler seven times and an All-Pro twice.

The 32-year-old is the Falcons' all-time leader in receptions (848) and receiving yards (12,896), and he is second behind Roddy White (63) with 60 receiving touchdowns.

He finished with 51 catches for 771 yards and three touchdowns last season, but he was limited to nine games because of a left hamstring injury. Had Jones been healthy, he almost certainly would have finished with over 1,000 receiving yards for the seventh year in a row.

It is unclear if veteran Cam Newton or rookie first-round pick Mac Jones will be the Patriots' starting quarterback when the 2021 season commences, but either would undoubtedly benefit from such a highly accomplished receiver.

Wide receiver Julio Jones is favored to remain with the Atlanta Falcons for the start of the 2021 season.

DraftKings Sportsbook released odds for Jones' team to open the 2021 regular season, and the Falcons are a minus-150 favorite. They are followed by the Indianapolis Colts and Los Angeles Chargers at plus-500, the Baltimore Ravens and New England Patriots at +700 and the San Francisco 49ers and Tennessee Titans at +800.

Trade rumors have swirled around Jones for quite some time, and Jeff Schultz of The Athletic reported this week that the Falcons "would like to" trade the veteran wideout.

Schultz noted that the Falcons' desire to trade Jones stems from the fact they have only $588,018 in cap space currently.

Schultz went on to list the Colts, Chargers, Ravens, Patriots, 49ers and Titans as teams with potential interest in Jones, and all of those teams were listed behind the Falcons in DraftKings' odds.

The 32-year-old Jones is among the NFL's top wide receivers of the past decade, having earned seven trips to the Pro Bowl and two First Team All-Pro selections. He is also part of the Pro Football Hall of Fame's All-Decade team for the 2010s.

Jones is the Falcons' all-time leader in receptions (848) and receiving yardage (12,896), and his 60 touchdown catches are second only to Roddy White's 63.

The former University of Alabama standout has been quarterback Matt Ryan's favorite target throughout his career, but that may be changing.

It was Calvin Ridley who led the team in receiving last season with 90 receptions for 1,374 yards and nine touchdowns, while Jones finished with 51 grabs for 771 yards and three touchdowns, although he was limited to nine games due to injury.

Last season marked the end of Jones' streak of six consecutive seasons with at least 1,300 receiving yards.

With Ridley emerging and the selection of tight end Kyle Pitts with the No. 4 overall pick in the 2021 NFL draft, Jones is perhaps more expendable now than at any time during his career.

Any trade would primarily be financially motivated with Jones set to make $15.3 million this season, but he can still be an asset to the Falcons or any team that may trade for him.

All of the teams listed below the Falcons in DraftKings' odds have a clear need at wide receiver, and their offenses could take a significant step forward if they manage to acquire the potential future Hall of Famer.

The Atlanta Falcons reportedly have a desire to trade potential future Hall of Fame wide receiver Julio Jones before the start of the 2021 season.

According to Jeff Schultz of The Athletic, the "Falcons would like to" deal Jones due in large part to a salary cap crunch that has left Atlanta with only $588,018 in cap space.

Schultz listed a few teams that could possibly be in the market for Jones in the Baltimore Ravens, San Francisco 49ers, New England Patriots, Indianapolis Colts and Los Angeles Chargers.

He also noted that a league source said the Tennessee Titans "may show interest," although their cap situation may preclude them from the conversation.

Since entering the NFL as the No. 6 overall pick in the 2011 draft, Jones has been one of the top wideouts in the game.

In 10 NFL seasons, the 32-year-old has earned seven trips to the Pro Bowl and two First Team All-Pro nods. He was also named to the Pro Football Hall of Fame's All-Decade Team for the 2010s.

Injuries have impacted Jones throughout his career, as he has missed time in six of his 10 seasons, but he has remained productive regardless.

In 135 career regular-season games, Jones has racked up 848 receptions for 12,896 yards and 60 touchdowns. Included in those numbers are three 100-catch seasons and seven 1,000-yard seasons, including six in a row from 2014-19.

Injuries limited Jones to nine games last season, but he still finished with 51 receptions for 771 yards and three touchdowns. Extrapolated over 16 games, he would have had 90 catches for 1,370 yards and five touchdowns.

That is a high level of production for a receiver entering his second decade in the league, but the Falcons can afford to part with him given their roster.

In his third NFL season in 2020, Calvin Ridley emerged as quarterback Matt Ryan's favorite target, setting career highs with 90 grabs for 1,374 yards, while also reeling in nine touchdowns.

The Falcons selected tight end Kyle Pitts with the No. 4 overall pick in the 2021 NFL draft. Pitts was lauded across the board by draft experts, and it shouldn't take him long to develop into an elite NFL tight end.

Jones' presence gives opposing defenses even more to account for, but given the Falcons' dire financial straits, trading him may be the easiest way to make things right.

Jones is signed through the 2023 season and is set to count $23.05 million against the cap this season, which is a restrictive number for a Falcons team in need of cap relief.

Any number of teams could benefit from acquiring a receiver of Jones' ilk, but Tennessee may be the most intriguing potential landing spot.

The Titans have some cap issues they would have to take care of in their own right, but after losing wide receivers Corey Davis and Adam Humphries, as well as tight end Jonnu Smith in free agency, the Titans could use another pass-catcher to complement A.J. Brown.

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan said Tuesday wide receiver Julio Jones, who's been the focus of trade rumors leading up to the 2021 NFL season, has "impacted my career more significantly than any other player."

Ryan also called Jones "one of the best to ever do it at his position:"

"From a player standpoint, he's my teammate. He's my guy. You let the other side of it shake out how it is."
--Matt Ryan on Julio Jones and the WR's future with the #Falcons. Full answer ⬇️⬇️ pic.twitter.com/1XKPKl4N0k

— Justin Felder (@Justin_FOX5) May 18, 2021

Peter King of NBC Sports reported last week there's a 60 percent chance Jones is traded by Labor Day, which is Sept. 6, six days before the Falcons open the regular season against the Philadelphia Eagles.

The Baltimore Ravens and Las Vegas Raiders are among the potential landing spots for the seven-time Pro Bowler, per KOA's Benjamin Allbright.

Jones' name previously entered the rumor mill leading up to last season's trade deadline, but he said at the time he wasn't looking to get moved when asked.

"No," Jones told reporters in October 2020. "I play football. I know who I am. I know what I got going on. I know what I mean to this team."

The 32-year-old University of Alabama product was limited to nine games in 2020 because of a hamstring injury. He finished the year with 771 receiving yards, which marked the first time since 2013 he didn't top 1,000 yards.

He's still a game-changing player when healthy, as he showed with 137 yards and two touchdowns in a 40-23 win over the Minnesota Vikings last October.

Atlanta's receiving corps, which is among the NFL's best with Jones joined by Calvin Ridley and Russell Gage, would take a hit if the two-time First Team All-Pro is eventually traded. Olamide Zaccheaus would likely get the first crack at filling the void in three-receiver sets.

In the bigger picture, trading Jones would be the first step toward ushering in a new era for the Falcons, which would also include at some point moving on from Ryan, 36, whose contract runs through 2023.

On Saturday, former Austin Peay defensive back Juantarius Bryant said he was the victim of a hoax after he received a message he had been invited to a tryout with the Atlanta Falcons, only to be turned away at the team facility.  

It’s been a rough few days, but I felt the need to clear the air and get this off my chest. Honestly ready to move on from the situation. pic.twitter.com/yUJELOstZW

— Juantarius Bryant (@TheyLoveMyHair_) May 15, 2021

But on Monday, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported that Bryant was being invited to a HUB football event:

HUB Football has invited Austin Peay DB, Juantarius Bryant to its May 23 event, per source. Bryant was the victim of a tryout hoax last week, but now will attend the HUB event, as will the Falcons and others. Veteran agent Don Yee founded HUB as a new path for players to the NFL. https://t.co/doP5S5ggqz

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) May 17, 2021

Other players scheduled to attend the May 23 HUB Football tryout in San Diego include QB Shea Patterson, QB Alex Hornibrook, former Broncos’ LB Brandon Marshall, CB Bené Benewikere, LB Korey Toomer, and former Austin Peay defensive back Juantarius Bryant, who got hoaxed last week https://t.co/OTL0av06oa

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) May 17, 2021

Bryant's agent, Corey Alexander, told ESPN's Michael Rothstein he was "frustrated" on his client's behalf after the hoax. 

"And I haven't seen it before," he added. "Working in football, I have never seen this happen. So I hope that it ends."

Bryant sent the following email to ESPN on Sunday following the hoax:

I am ready to move on from the situation and respectfully I do not feel like talking about it over and over again. Yes, whoever did this to me is very wrong, but I'm moving on from the situation and I forgive them for whatever reason they chose to do it.

I honestly would not like the person who pulled this stunt on me to be publicly humiliated. I wouldn't wish that on my worst enemy.

Bryant was a first-team All-Ohio Valley Conference defensive back in his senior season (2019), posting 107 tackles. He had 242 tackles, eight passes defensed and an interception in his college career.

Bryant should get his chance to show off his skills at the HUB event, with scouts and team representatives expected to be in attendance.